Saravanan Govindan

1
CAPWAP Objectives

• Saravanan Govindan
• Panasonic
• 8 November, 2004
• ltdraft-govindan-capwap-objectives-00.txtgt

2
Background

• Based on discussions in previous meeting and on
  mailing list
• Follows outline in charter goals
• Requirements that address Problem Statement
• Advantages to a CAPWAP protocol
• Customer requirements

3
Adaptive Interfaces

• Enables protocol support for both local MAC and
  split MAC designs
• Allows for mixed deployments of both types of
  WTPs in a single WLAN domain
• e.g. Split-MAC WTPs in local office and local-MAC
  WTPs in remote offices
• Results in a protocol that achieves true
  interoperability
• Based on scenario of
  
• ltdraft-cheng-capwap-classifications-01gt

4
Support for Logical Networks

• Prevalent business trend in sharing physical WLAN
  resources
• ISPs seeking cost-efficiencies in building and
  managing networks
• Sharing infrastructure addresses these concerns
• Multiple logical network are created within one
  physical WLAN
• Each logical network is assigned to a different
  ISP or subscriber group
• Protocol that supports this objective directly
  addresses cost concerns

5
Multiple Authentication Mechanisms

• With spread of WLANs, there is a diversity of
  authentication needs
• Corporate network uses certificates and keys
• Coffee shop issues temporary passcodes with each
  cup
• Differences can be present even within a single
  large WLAN
• CAPWAP protocol needs to recognize and relay
  different authentication information
• Enabling support for different authentication
  mechanisms is therefore crucial

6
Automated Processes

• New WTPs are designed for low cost and
  installation ease
• Redeploying a WTP from one location to another
  becomes simple and also frequent
• Each redeployment requires discovery and
  initialization processes
• These processes can become intensive and
  error-prone in large networks
• Advantages of automating discovery
  initialization
• WLAN management is simplified
• Operational costs are reduced

7
WLAN Status Monitoring

• Large scale of WLAN deployments means there are
  multiple points for complication
• Numerous WTPs and users
• Dynamic nature of wireless medium
• So network requires constant monitoring in order
  to react to any complications
• For effective management, status monitoring needs
  to be integral to CAPWAP protocol
• Regular status information also helps with higher
  level functions like charging and accounting

8
QoS

• VoIP is a major service over WLANs
• System-wide QoS is crucial for its support
• This includes QoS over both
• Switching segment (AC-WTPs)
• Wireless medium segment (WTP-users)
• Protocol has to coordinate performance over both
  these segments
• CAPWAP needs to enable QoS because it affects
• User perception
• Business performance

9
Relation to Problems
Management Complexity
Configuration Consistency
Management of Wireless Medium
WLAN Security
Problems
Objectives
Adaptive Interface
Logical Networks Support
Multiple Authentication Mechanisms
Automated Processes
WLAN Status Monitoring
WLAN Status Monitoring
QoS
10
Next Steps

• Discuss objectives further

11

• Questions?
• Comments?